Mill-carriage attachment.



0. E. $WEET. MILL CARRIAGE ATTACHMENT.

. APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 10 1916. 959,899

Patanted May 31, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT @ITIQE.

CHARLES E. SWEET, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA.

MILL-CARRIAGE ATTACHMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Swnn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Madison, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Mill-Carriage Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

By way of explanation, I will state, that in logging operations, the saw-dust and other offal commonly accumulates upon the track in advance of the wheels of the log-carriage in a saw-mill. These accumulations in advance of the wheel of the log-carriage not only impede the movement of the log-carriage but, as well, tilt the same, causing the saws to make irregular cuts through the logs, resulting in a distorted and uneven stick of timber.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device which will not only prevent the saw-dust and like material from falling in laterally upon the wheel of the carriage but, as well, sweep the material from the rail in advance of the wheel, as the saw-mill carriage reciprocates.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the drawings, and specifically claimed, it being understood, that, since the drawings show but one form of the invention, changes, properly falling within the scope of what is claimed, may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are em ployed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawlngs.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 shows my invention in perspective, mounted upon a saw-mill carriage; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the scraper and its attendant mechanism; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the device, parts being broken away; and Fig. is an end elevation, parts being broken away.

In the drawings, there is shown a portion of a saw-mill carriage, consisting of a platform 1, mounted upon axles, one of which, denoted by the numeral 2 is shown, the axles carrying wheels 3, adapted to bear upon the track 4.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a casing 5, having an outstanding flange 6 which is adapted to be secured to the plat- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 10, 1910.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Serial No. 537,284.

form 1 of the carriage. This casing 5 incloses the Wheel 3 and at its upper end is, for convenience, curved as denoted by the numeral 7 to conform approximately to the circumference of the wheel. Upon its inner side the casing 5 is open, but upon its outer side the casing is closed, and extended downwardly into close relation with the track 4, the lower edge 8 of the casing being straight, so that the said edge may be disposed as closely to the track 4 as the operator may wish, or as the condition and construction of the track may permit.

There is an opening 9 in the casing, and over this opening extends a pivoted closure 10, the opening constituting a means for properly positioning the casing upon the platform with respect to the axle 2, and likewise serving to give access to the axle for lubrication and the like.

Upon the ends of the casing, alined with the track 4; are duplicate scraping mechanisms, one of which will be described, it being understood that the description is equally applicable to both of said mechanisms.

Secured in any desired manner to the end of the casing 5, and preferably abutting against the flange 6, is a block 11 which constitutes a guide in which the scraper, hereinafter described, may slide. This block, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, is provided, adjacent its outer face, with overhanging ribs 12, defining guide-ways 14E in the interior of the block. In these guide-ways 14 sliding vertically, is a plate 15. The scraper 16 is adapted to slide upon the outer face of the block 11, and is provided with an extension 17 which registers closely, yet slidably, between the ribs 12, the extension being arranged to abut against the plate 15. Screws 18, or other fastening means adapted to a like end are extended through the scraper 16, into engagement with the plate 15, the plate 15 and the other component parts of the device being preferably fashioned from metal, saving the scraper 16 which may be of wood, felt, or the like.

Riveted or otherwise secured to the end of the casing 5 above the block 11 is a lug 22, constituting a projection from the casing. Threaded into this projection 22, is a screw 21, one end of which bears against a spring 20, the other end of the spring being engaged by a lug 19, upstanding from the upper edge of the plate 15.

The operation of the device is as follows :-The casing 5 is secured to the platform 1 to position the lower edge 8 of ti e casing as close to the track as the operator may desire. positioned, both of the scrapers 16 will be alined vertically with the track at, and, under the impulse of the springs 20, will bear terminally upon the track in advance of the wheel As the carriage reciprocates, the casing 5 will prevent the saw-dustor other material from falling against the wheel and the scrapers 16 will clear the rail in advance of the wheel. The tension of the springs 20 may be adjusted by means of the screws 21 to bear upon the track with the desired pressure. The scrapers being yieldably pressed against the rail 1-, will readily follow any depressions in the track, and, under all conditions, sweep the same clean in advance of the wheels, as the carriage reciprocates.

The scraper 1G is of substantially the same width as the block 11 and the material u son the rail thus prevented from finding its way into the interior of the block to interfere with the sliding or the scraper. Obviously, the sraper 16 is subjected to considerable pressure, and 3 of th drawings will serve to illustrate the secure manner in which the scraper is assembled with the block in wnich it slides.

The only portions of the device which are subjected to noticeable wear are the scrapers l6, and those elements, being preferably fashioned from wood, may quickly be renewed at will, without disturbing the adjustments of the remaining portions of the device, the heads of the screws 18 being disposed upon the exterior of the scrapers 16 so that the matter of renewing the scraper may be quick and easily carried out.

Paving thus described the invention, what claimed 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing adapted to be secured to a wheelmounted plat; rm to house the wheel thereof; and a track-engaging scraper arranged to slide upon the casing.

2. it device of the class described comprisin a casin adapted to be secured to a wheelniounted platform to house the wheel there- Vhen the casing is thus prising a casing adapted to be secured to a of; a track-engaging scraper arranged to slide upon the casing; and resilient means for depressing the scraper.

3. A device of the class described comwheel-mounted platform to house the wheel thereof; a track-engaging scraper arranged to slide upon the casing; resilientmeans for (lQPlQSSiDg the scraper; and a device for adjusting the tension of the resilient means.

4:. A; device of the class described comprising a block having guide-ways; aplate to slide in the guide-ways; a scraper removably secured to the plate; and means for mounting the block upon a wheel-mounted platform to position the scraper in advance of the wheel thereof.

o. a device or the class described com prising a block having over-hanging ribs defining guide-ways in the block; a plate to slide in the guide-ways; a scraper removably secured to the plate for sliding upon the outer face of the block and having an extension to fit between the ribs and to bear upon the plate; and means for mounting the block upon a wheel-mounted platform to position the scraper .in advance of the Wheel thereof.

(3. A device of the class described comprising a box-like casing; a guide secured to one edge of the casing; a scraper to slide in the guide; there being a projection upon the edge of the casing above the guide; and means carried by the projection for advancing the scraper.

I. A device of the class described comprising a supporting member having a projection; a guide located upon the supporting member below the projection; a plate to slide in the guide; a scraper removably secured to the plate; a screw mounted in the projection; and a compression spring bearing at one end against the plate and at the other end bearing against the screw.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. SWVEET.

Witnesses J. M. German, 0. C. HERMINGHAUSEN. 

